Upright-piano action



(No Model.)

G. M. GUILD. UPRIGHT PIANO ACTION.

No. 449,583. Patented Mar. 31,1891.

I UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE- GEORGE MORSE GUILD, OF BOSTON,MASSACHUSETTS.

UPRlGHT-PIANO ACTION.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 449,583, dated March31, 1891.

Application filed (lune 23,1890. Serial No. 356,473- (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, GEORGE MORSE GUILD, a citizen of the United States,residing at Boston, in the county of Suffolk and State of Massachusetts,have invented certain new and useful Improvements in I'pright-PianoActions; and I do declare the following to be a full, clear, and exactdescription of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in theart to which it appertains to make and use the same, reference being hadto the accompanying drawings, and to the letters of reference markedthereon, which form a part of this specification.

Figure 1 is a side elevation of an uprightpiano action constructed inaccordance with my invention. Fig. 2 is a side elevation showingmodifications of portions of the action to be hereinafter explained.Fig. 3 is an under side view, and Fig. e an end view, of the lever N.Fig. 5 is a top view of the jack-butt shown in Fig. 1. Fig. (3 is a viewshowing the position of the jack with relation to the jack-butt and theback-check when the key is in its lowest position.

The object of my invention is to simplify and reduce the cost ofconstruction of the action, and at the same time render it moreefficient and reliable in its working, the nature of my invention beingdefined in the claims hereinafter presented.

In the drawings, A denotes the centerrail, and 0. the flange fixedthereto, to opposite ends of which the damper-lever l3 and hammer-heel Oare pivoted.

D denotes the hammer-spring rail, and E the hammer-spring.

F is the hammer, and G the hammer-rail, and B the damper-spring, theparts thus far referred to being arranged and, with the e):- ception ofthe rail A, constructed in the usual manner. To the heel of the hammeris pivoted what I shall term the combined lifter rod and jack II, itbeing provided with a hearing 1) for the free end of a spring I, a pin0, adjustable buttons d and e, and a doubly-inclined back-stop f, andrests at its lower end on an adjustable jack-butt K,tl1e latterconnected to the key L by a right and left threaded screw M, whichscrews into each and is provided between the threads with holes to receive an implement by which the screw can be turned to effect adjustmentof the buttin altitude when required. A pin g, fixed in the key, extendsupward through a slot h in the butt and preserves said butt in position.The said butt K is provided with ears 1', pivoted to which is a lever70, the upper surface of which is in line with or a little below thesurface or seat Z for the lifter rod or jack. A spring m bears upwardagainst the arm of the lever 7o nearest the jack, the other arm of saidlever being provided with a button it for adjusting said lever as may berequired.

N represents a lever pivoted to a flange 0, the latter secured to therail A or to the lower rail X, and provided with arms 2) and g, whichwhen said lever is turned on its fulcrum by depressing the key operaterespectively the damper-lever l3 and the lifter rod or jack II. The saidlever N is notched, as represented at s, to receive the pin 0,projecting from the lifter rod or jack, said lever being borne downwardagainst said pin by thespring I, said pin turning the leverN on itsfulcrum when the jack is lifted. The spring I also draws the jack towardthe lever and against the stop 6 of the butt K on release of the keyfrom the touch of the player. Instead of the spring I, the bottom of thenotch s and the pin 0 may be inclined, the damper-spring B indirectlyforcing the bottom of said notch against the pin and drawing the jackagainst the stop if of the butt K.

O denotes a rail, which sustains the adjustable back-check 1'. Byproviding the butt K with the lever 7o, the button a, and spring on theaction is rendered very efficient for rapidly repeating a note whendesired. On the key being struck the lowerend of the jack will be movedon to the next adjacent arm of the lever 7t" (see Fig. 6) and said armwill be slightly depressed by the jack as the latter drops and carriesits backstop into contact with the back-cheek and the hammer away fromthe string a suitable distance, and as soon as the key is released fromthe touch of the player or as soon as the key is allowed to rise alittle the spring m will exert its force on the lever 7t and cause itsdepressed arm to immediately rise and return the jack to its seat.

Instead of providing the butt K with the ears i lever 70, and spring m,as shown in Fig. 1, I sometimes form the butt, as represented in Fig. 2,with an additional fixed seat Z, arranged below theseat Z to facilitatethe repeating of a note, the difierence in. height between the seats tobe such as to allow the jack to drop enough to carry the hammer theproper distance away from the string after the blow has been delivered,the jack bearing on said additional seat during the repeatplication topianos of a cheaper grade than that shown in Fig. 1.

I11 the action shown in Fig. 1 it will be perceived that the lower railusually employed in this class of actions is dispensed with, and thatthe adjusting-buttons and the screws connecting the several parts of theaction to the rail A can be readily reached from the front of the pianowithout removing the action when it becomes necessary to adjust parts ofthe action to take up the wear.

By forming the back-stop f as represented and having the back-checkradjustable said parts operate together to excellent advantage and cannotfail to perform their functions.

The back-stop, instead of being doubly i11- clined with relation to thelifter-rod or jack, as represented, is sometimes used by me in suchaction with but a single incline.

What I claim is- 1. In an action for upright pianos, the combined lifterrod and jack pivoted to the hammer-heel and provided with thespring-bearing 1), the pin 0, buttons (Z and e, and backstop f, as andfor the purpose explained.

2. In an action forupright pianos, the combined lifter rod and jackpivoted to thehammer-heel and provided with the spring-bearin g 1), pin0, an adjustable button, and a backstop f, as and for the purpose setforth.

3. In an action for upright pianos, the lever N, provided with thearms 1) and q, the notch s, and spring I, fulcrumed to a flange-piece,essentially as shown. j

4. In an action for upright pianos, the combination of a lever N,provided with arms 1) and q, a notch s and spring I, said leverfulcrumed to the'fiange-pieoe 0, with the combined lifter rod and jackII, pivoted to the hammer-heel and provided with a bearing for the saidspring I, a pin 0, one or more adj ustable buttons, and a back-stop,essentially as shown and set forth.

5. In an action forupright pianos, the combination of the combinedlifter rod and jack pivoted to the hammer-heel and provided with aspring-bearing b, a pin 0, one or more adjustable buttons, and aback-stop with an adjustable back-check r, the latter supportedsubstantially as shown and set forth.

6. In an action for upright pianos, the jackbutt K, provided with thestop Z, seat Z, ears a, lever k, pivoted to said ears, the adjustablebutton ,a, the spring m, and slot 71, in combination with the key,provided with the pin 9, and the right and left threaded screw M, as andfor thepurpose explained.

7. An action for upright pianos, substantially as described, itconsisting of the flangepiece a, the damper and hammer pivoted thereto;the damper-spring B, thecombined lifter rod andjack H, provided with aspringbearing b,a pin a, one or more adj Listing-buttons, and aback-stop, the adjustable backcheck the lever N, provided with arms 1)and q, a notch s and spring I, the flange-piece oIsupporting said lever,the jack-butt K, provided with the stop 25, seat Z, ears 2', lever 7t,button a, spring on, and slot h, and the key provided with the guide-ping and the'right and left threaded screw M, connecting said butt to thekey, all arranged and supported essentially as represented.

8. In an action for upright pianos, the com-' bined lifter rod and jackpivoted to theham mer-heel and provided with inclined pin 0, one or moreadj listing-buttons, and a doublyinclined back-stop, essentially asrepresented.

9. In an action for upright pianos, the combined lifter rod and jackprovided with the doubly-inclined back-stop f, essentially asrepresented.

10. In an action for upright pianos, the lever N, provided with arms 19and q, and the notch 8, provided with the inclined bottom, as and forthe purpose explained.

11. In an action for upright pianos, the combination of the damper B andspring B, the lever N, provided with arms 19 and q, and a notch havingan inclined bottom, the com bined lifter rod and jack pivoted to thehammer-heel and provided with the inclined pin 0, oneor more adjusting-buttons, and a doublyinclined back-stop f and the adjustablebackcheck 4", all arranged and supported essentially as represented.

12. In an action for upright pianos, the jack-butt K, provided with thestop 25. seat Z, ears 2', lever 7c, fulcrumed to said ears, theadjusting-button n, and the spring m,'incombination with-the keysupporting said butt, essentially as and for the purpose explained.

13. In an action for upright pianos, the combined lifter rod and jackpivoted to the hammer-heel and provided with a spring-bearingb, a pin a,and one or more adjustable buttons, arranged essentially as shown.

14. In an action for uprigh t pianos, the combined lifter rod or jackprovided with .a backstop, the working-face of which is inclined, forthe purpose explained.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

GEORGE MORSE GUILD.

Witnesses:

S. N. PIPER, S. W; HARMON.

IOC

